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It’s a marvelous spot for a day trip just a 2 ½ hours drive from Launceston and 1 hour from St. Helens. The Eddystone Point and Lighthouse is situated in the Mount William National Park.

Try to come here on a sunny day, not completely overcast to enjoy the picturesque fiery granite rocks at the clear blue sea. Best sunlight for these mesmerizing rocks is around midday. More rocks are accessible at low tide: Tide times Bay of Fires

Weather

From November to March pleasant temperatures mostly above 20°C. In the winter, most days with single-digit temps. Most precipitation roughly every second day occurs during the winter, although the highest amount of rain happens in November. The driest months are January to March. Even in the summer, the wind can be chilly. Anyhow, that's Tassie be always prepared for rain.

Crowds

Due to the remote location and the gravel road, it’s not very busy. It only gets a bit busy during the Australian school holidays around the boat ramp.

The Eddystone Lighthouse was established in 1889 and is in total 42 meters high. The Aboriginal people are the owners of this land. Their indigenous name is Larapuna.

Tip

Most visitors come here in a rush. We spend half a day at Eddystone Point, and we also had a look at the Policemen Point. You can find an hour drive to the south in Saint Helens a variety of affordable and lovely accommodations. Stay here for a couple of days. Make a day trip to the Blue Tier Forest Reserve and the biggest tree of Australia; the Blue Tier Giant.

A short trail leads through the Evercreech Rainforest to the world's tallest white gums. Another beautiful walk leads the Halls Falls close to Pyengana. Excellent for a coffee or even lunch break is the Pyengana Cheese Factory. We combined the Bay of Fires with the Blue Tier Forest Reserve and the Evercreech Rainforest. We loved our three nights stay at the Pelican Point Sanctuary in a self-contained cottage.

The highest tides on our planet with 15 meters and more and some gorgeous rock formations. You should watch the tide go out and come in as well.

The park is open from mid-May until mid-October but still accessible in off-season (see main text below) and an amazing experience. However, the place is usually swarmed with tourists.

Tip: Make sure to check our '17 Must-Know Tips for Hopewell Rocks' at the end of this article!

Avoiding Tourist Crowds

Time of Day: Go very early at sunrise. It's even quieter before they open (9 am / 8 am) or visit after the park is closed. Check the tide table first: Hopewell Rocks Tide Tables Please be careful: Outside of operating hours there is no staff to advise you regarding safety and you visit at your own risk. However, all other safety measures like cables and signs are in place regardless of the time of day. The only exception is during off-season from mid-October until mid-May: The safety measures are not in place during these months.

Season/Months: Peak tourist season with heavy crowds is from mid-June/July till August. In September it thins out a little but still can be busy as it is the preferred travel month for seniors. SWEET SPOT months with mild weather and less crowds are END OF MAY, BEGINNING OF JUNE and END OF SEPTEMBER until OCTOBER. You might even visit in the winter and enjoy real solitude. But please keep in mind that a walk can be very slippery and icy. Plus, the safety measures are not in place and it can become dangerous.

Official Opening Hours 2019

May 17 – June 21: From 9:00 – 17:00 (9 am – 5 pm)

June 22 – August 16: 8:00 – 20:00 (8 am – 8 pm)

August 17 – September 2: 9:00 – 19:00 (9 am – 7 pm)

September 3 – October 14: 9:00 – 17:00 (9 am – 5 pm)

*You may also enter the park outside opening hours (read above and below)

Very beautiful, but very crowded nowadays. Especially at noon, it fills up pretty bad and of course, they charge you extra US$ for the "beam" at upper antelope canyon.

The best time to visit Antelope Canyon in Arizona, depends on what you’re looking for: Capturing the amazing light beams during peak season or experience solitude during the off-season in Lower Antelope Canyon? The light beams can only be seen between March and early October. However, it gets extremely busy in high season.

Read our comprehensive guide below (scroll down to the end of this article for even more tips) which covers every aspect of an Antelope Canyon visit. Feedback from our users: 'You got the best Antelope Canyon guide on the internet!' Tip: Are you planning to do more than Antelope Canyon in Arizona? Then get the latest edition of 'Fodor's Arizona & Grand Canyon'. It has amazing insights and is definitely the best guidebook for the area.

The Wave - Arizona: A once in a lifetime hike! 1,5 hours drive from Antelope Canyon. Our free guide with insider tips!

Monument Valley: A complete guide & the best tips you should know. 2 hours drive from Antelope Canyon.

Light Beams (Highlight)

The light beams in Antelope Canyon start around March 20 and last until early October. Best months for the beams are June, July, and August. The higher sun brings more light into the canyon. Each day the light beams are visible in the midday between 11 AM and 1:30 PM on a sunny day only. There are no light beams when it's cloudy. The most beams can be seen in Upper Antelope Canyon. They occur in Lower Antelope Canyon as well, but light beams are few and far between. You might be wondering if it's still worth visiting Antelope Canyon during off-season, without the light beams? Yes, definitely! Read on for more details:

Avoiding Tourist Crowds

Antelope Canyon by Ron Holder, CC BY
Upper Antelope Canyon became a mass tourism spot, especially during high season as well as during shoulder seasons. Even Lower Antelope got a lot busier in the recent years. Our tips for 2018 and beyond:

High Season / Shoulder Season:
Expect a crowded place and fully booked midday tours from April until September. It's worse during peak months (June, July, and August) when the light is just perfect. Midday tours are jammed throughout the season. You have to choose between a crowded place with the magical beams during the season (end of March - early October) or fewer tourists without the beams in the off-season (mid-October - mid-March). You may also book a less busy tour in the early morning without the beams in 'light beams season'. You can still take great photos regardless of the time of day. Another option is Lower Antelope Canyon: Larger area, ladder climbing, fewer beams but also fewer crowds. However, Lower Canyon became busier as well recently. Book mid-week and try to go in the shoulder months (April/September), when there are already/still light beams but without the massive summer tourist crowds.

Low Season (Winter Visit):
In the off-season (mid-October - mid-March) there are no light beams, but both places are still magical. It's less busy from November to February. However, even in winter, avoid weekends if you visit Upper Antelope Canyon. It's more quiet mid-week. For even more solitude: Visit Lower Antelope Canyon in the winter. It's much quieter during the off-season, and although there are no light beams at all, the colors are gorgeous. Check the weather forecast and try to go between 10 and 11 AM because of better light conditions.

Weather / Climate

Temperature wise, you can visit any time of the year. In the winter it's much quieter (see above) but also cold sometimes. Snow is very rare. Canyon closures due to winter conditions did happen in the past but they are very unlikely. In the warm summer months, thunderstorms can occur during 'Arizona's Monsoon Season': From roughly mid-June until mid-September. Thunderstorms are usually afternoon thundershowers and more wind and lightning than rain. But still, dangerous flash floods are possible.

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